SINGLE mums in Worcester are "disgusted" child maintenance payments may be slashed by a fifth, according to Government documents.

A new formula being introduced by the Child Support Agency will mean a reduction of 19 per cent for working single mothers with one child - an average drop from £18.46 to £14.95.

Mothers in work with two children will see maintenance payments from ex-partners cut by 11 per cent on average from £24.57 to £21.87.

Single mum Carmel Panesh, from St Paul's Street, felt the drop was "massive".

"As a 16-year-old with a child I only receive £15.75 a week and it hardly buys anything. A drop that big would be disgusting," she said.

A mum-of-four, who asked not to be named, said any cuts would simply see children suffer.

"Most people don't set off to be a single parent. Both parents must contribute fairly and face up to their responsibilities equally," she said.

The Liberal Democrats said the plans were buried in Parliamentary questions and were only revealed after internal memos were obtained under the Data Protection Act.

"I am shocked such important information has been withheld from Parliament and lone parents will bear the brunt of the changes," said Liberal Democrat Steve Webb, the party's work and pensions spokesman.

The cuts will be introduced as part of long-promised Government reforms designed to simplify the complex maintenance assessment process.

Under the changes, all absent dads will pay 15 per cent of their net income for the first child, 20 per cent for the second and 25 per cent for the third.

The lower maintenance assessments would not affect single mothers on benefits, s their benefits would be adjusted to make up the shortfall.

The new formula was due to be introduced last April but has been delayed because of computer problems - probably until next year.